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J. SMALLEY. KNITTING MAGHINE. No; 334,681. Patented Jan. 19, 1886 N4 PEYERS. Phnlo-Liuwgmphen Washmglon. D4 c,

(No Model?) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. SMALLEY. KNITTING MAGHINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

INVENTOR:

N. PETERS. Fhololillwgraphar. Waxhinglan. l1 6,

NITED STATES ATENT FFICEQ JOSEPH SMALLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JAMES H. GOMERSALL, OF SAME PLACE.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

rJPECIPICATION Forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,681, dated January 19,1886

' Al lliczition filed M23 291884.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SMALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and count-y of Philadelphia, State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Knitting-Machines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of a knitting-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a detached portion, including the top of the needle-cylinder, a number of latch-needles, a piece of fabric or rib-top bodged on the top of the cylinder, over the needles, and a finger for preventing the latches of the descending needles from entering the rim of the bodged fabric or ribtop. Fig. 4 represents avertical section in line :0 m, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of a rib-top fabric having a piece of different fabric connected therewith by knitting, a portion of the two fabrics being broken away to show the place of attachment of the piece of different fabric with the rib-top fabric.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a knittingmachine employing latchneedles, and having means, substantially as hereinafter described, whereby, when it is desired to knit another piece of fabric to a piece of fabric of a different kind previously made, and the last-named piece of fabric is fitted over the needles or bodged, as it is called in the art, and the knitting takes place, the tendency of thelatches to bury themselves in the outer rim of the fabric bodged on the needles as the needles descend is prevented.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the needle-cylinder, B the needles with self-acting pivoted latches B, G the'camcylinder, D the thread-guide, and E the gearing of the camcylinder, all well-known parts of a rotary-knitting machine. Connected with the cam-cylinder and located beneath the thread-guide is a finger or latch-lifter, F, which extends horizontally or somewhat horizontally with its point or front end just above the upper edge of the needle-cylinder, so as to be in the path of the latches as the needles descend, the finger Serial No. 133,160. (No model.)

being somewhat wedgeshaped and inclined, and having its lower edge farther from the body of the needles than the upper edge thereof, so that as the needles descend the lower ends of the latch impinge against the outer face of the lifter and ride thereon as the needles continue their descent. A piece, 13*, of rib-top hosiery or other knitted fabric of tubular form previously made, is placed within the cylinder, and its upper portion bodged or slipped over the needles, so that the top rim, B of said piece of fabric is on the outside of the needles, the latter being in their lowest positions and the latches being within said 6 rim of fabric. The end of the thread or yarn to be used is then placed on the portion of the fabric within the needles, so that when the knitting begins said yarn will catch on said fabric. The knitting is then proceeded with, the result being the knitting of a fabric or web, B, on the previously-made piece of fabric, regardless of the nature of the latter, the machine with my attached finger thus having an increased range of work. 7 5

It will be seen that when the machine is operated, which is occasioned by power imparted to the driving-shaft, as well known, the lifter is carried around with the cam-cylinder. When the needles are in their highest position, and the thread is fed to the same, the latch-lifter or finger approaches said needles. When the lifter reaches said needles, the latter begin to descend, and when the latches of said needles strike the lifter they are directed outwardly. 8 5 As the lifter continues its motion and the needles continue their descent, the latches are thrown upwardly or positively raised against the hooks of the needles, so that the loops are stripped over the latches and hooks or heads of the needles Without interference, allowing the machine to work freely, and preventing the latches of the descending needles from burying themselves in the rim of the aforesaid fabric, it being noticed that the outside rim of the previously-made fabric is slipped over the latches with the loops or stitches formed by the knitting-machine, the latches being in upright position. NVhen the rim of fabric existed on the outside of the needles, it naturally 10 presentedamass of fabric, intowhich the latches of the needles would have buried themselves had they not been thrown outwardly and up wardly by the finger, as hereinbefore stated. As soon as the piece-of fabric entirely leaves the needles, the finger or lifter is no longer required, and may be removed, as the subsequent knitting operation is similar to that of other latch-needle knitting-machines. The finger is of angular form, and has a vertical limb, a, secured to the needle-cylinder by means of a screw, G, so as to be firmly held in position. The two limbs are connected by a screw or rivet, a, whereby the horizontal limb may be angularly adjusted with reference to the needles. The limb a has also a slight lateral adj nstment. The object of these adjustments is to so place or locate in position the said limb a that the needles as they descend will unfailingly ride or strike upon the said limb.

In order to uniformly loeatethe finger, a pin, H, is employed, the same projecting from the cam-cylinder, and adapted to havethe vertical limb of the finger abutagainst the same, thus providing a stop or guide for setting the finger, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The cam-cy1inder and means for rotating the same, in combination with the needle cyl' JOSEPH SM ALLEY.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHnnr, JNo. K. PLITT. 

